Best Indie Games For Fans Of Dark Souls

Dark Souls is unique for many things; from its melancholic atmosphere and dark fantasy setting to its skill-based ARPG combat, it’s a particularly distinctive experience that fits an awfully specific niche, especially with its high level of difficulty.

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As a result, fans of Dark Souls may be left with a very distinct itch to scratch. While there are a variety of Soulslikes built with Dark Souls fans in mind, many indie games may also appeal to fans of the FromSoftware classic through their immersive atmospheres, rich settings, and/or challenging boss fights.

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Lunacid

An Atmospheric Dungeon-Crawling RPG

Systems

Released

March 15, 2022

Developer(s)

Kira Llc

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Lunacid is a first-person dungeon-crawling RPG that takes clear inspiration from FromSoftware’s earlier titles, such as Shadow Tower and King’s Field. Though built with fans of these classics in mind, Lunacid’s dark fantasy setting, enigmatic characters, and mysterious atmosphere will more than likely appeal to many fans of Dark Souls, too.

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The game’s first-person combat is simple but methodical, allowing Lunacid to be a great deal more accessible than Dark Souls. However, the real motivation to keep playing is arguably the game’s well-crafted atmosphere and distinctive retro style.

6

TUNIC

A Zelda-Style Adventure With Souls-Like Combat

Released

March 16, 2022

Developer(s)

Andrew Shouldice

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Taking a great deal of inspiration from The Legend Of Zelda and Dark Souls alike, TUNIC provides a remarkably enigmatic adventure with a colorful, low-poly art style. The game’s unique method of teaching the player is particularly innovative, adding to the mystery of the setting in a way that Dark Souls fans are sure to appreciate.

The game’s methodical combat and impressive boss battles are also likely to appeal to fans of Dark Souls, though they’re not quite as challenging. RPG systems and a focus on exploration also provide similar gameplay, made distinctive via the game’s unique perspective and Zelda influences.

5

Titan Souls

An Atmospheric, Minimalist Boss-Rush

• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation
• Released: 2015
• Developer(s): Acid Nerve
• Genre: Souls-Like

Titan Souls is a deeply atmospheric boss-rush game that’s likely to appeal to fans of Dark Souls who loved the dramatic boss battles but perhaps didn’t care for the Metroidvania-esque exploration. The game is tremendously approachable, with simple combat that revolves around a single arrow, rather than a variety of build options.

As a result, this indie game isn’t likely to appeal to every Dark Souls fan, but its emphasis on large-scale boss fights makes it worth a shot. For fans of pixel art and short, focused experiences, Titan Souls is a worthwhile title.

4

Vagante

A Deadly & Atmospheric Roguelike RPG

Released

December 16, 2014

ESRB

Teen // Blood, Fantasy Violence

Vagante is a pixel-art platformer with a somber dark fantasy setting and a combination of action and RPG elements that’s likely to appeal to Dark Souls fans. The harsh difficulty and unforgiving nature of its gameplay are also sure to please many fans of FromSoftware’s iconic title, though it’s admittedly a little more blunt in the way it dishes out death.

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This is due to a variety of deadly hazards and dangerous enemies that can bring swift and brutal ends to any given run. While this may be frustrating for some, it adds a level of intensity that’s sure to appeal to certain fans of Dark Souls.

3

White Lavender

A Minimalist Approach To The Souls-Like Formula

Systems

Released

June 20, 2022

Developer(s)

Sokpop Collective

This colorful, charming adventure translates the ARPG combat and unique structure of Dark Souls to a smaller, bug-sized scale. Though its combat and RPG mechanics are sure to appeal to Dark Souls fans, White Lavender is a decidedly unique experience with its own sense of style and atmosphere.

From its distinctive, modern soundtrack, to its wobbly art style, White Lavender is a unique beast. As a result, it won’t appeal to fans of Dark Souls looking for more of that rich, dark fantasy setting. However, players who simply want more of Dark Souls’ methodical combat and meaningful exploration will find plenty to love.

2

FlyKnight

A First-Person Combination Of Dark Souls & OSRS

FlyKnight

Systems

Released

January 31, 2025

Developer(s)

Wabbaboy

Fans of Dark Souls and first-person action games such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance should certainly take a look at FlyKnight, which uses a combination of dismemberment mechanics and directional attacks to stand out from its obvious inspirations. Furthermore, the game features a nostalgic old-school Runescape art style that certain players are sure to enjoy.

FlyKnight also features a tremendous amount of loot and clear build variety that fans of Dark Souls are likely to appreciate. Overall, while its combat is certainly unique and its art style dramatically different, Dark Souls fans should consider giving FlyKnight a go.

1

Hollow Knight

A Deeply Atmospheric & Interconnected World

Released

February 24, 2017

Developer(s)

Team Cherry

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Hollow Knight is an immediately atmospheric indie game with a unique hand-drawn art style, a melancholic soundtrack, and a skill-based combat system. With its enigmatic world and variety of quirky NPCs, Hollow Knight is more than likely to appeal to Dark Souls fans on a variety of levels.

The clear difference between Hollow Knight and Dark Souls is its tighter focus on Metroidvania elements, as well as its nature as a side-scroller. As a Metroidvania rather than an ARPG, Hollow Knight’s combat and character progression are much simpler, but Dark Souls fans should still consider giving this indie darling a shot.

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